towing CADILLAC ESCALADE HYBRID 2011 User Guide

Black plate (10,1)Cadillac Escalade Hybrid - 2011
9-10 Driving and Operating
Manual Mode Range Selection Mode
The Range Selection Mode controls
the vehicle's transmission.
To use this feature:
1. Move the shift lever to the
M (Manual Mode).
2. Press the plus/minus button to
upshift or downshift selecting the
desired range of gears. A number displays next to the M,
indicating the current gear that has
been selected. The number
displayed in the gear indicator is the
highest gear that can be used. The
vehicle can automatically shift to
lower gears as it adjusts to driving
conditions. When 3 (Third) is
selected, 1 (First) through 3 (Third)
gears are automatically shifted by
the vehicle, but 4 (Fourth) cannot be
used until it is selected.
The Range Selection Mode controls
the vehicle and engine speed while
driving down a hill or towing a trailer,
by allowing you to select a desired
range of gears.
When you move the shift lever into
M, the transmission will default to
M4. In this gear range, effective
engine braking occurs at speeds
above 72 km/h (45 mph). Pushing the minus ( − ) button on the
shift lever reduces the gear range.
In the M3 gear range, effective
engine braking occurs at speeds
above 56 km/h (35 mph).
In the M2 gear range, effective
engine braking occurs at speeds
above 40 km/h (25 mph).
In the M1 gear range, effective
engine braking occurs at speeds
above 16 km/h (10 mph).
When operating in M (Manual
Mode), Auto Stop is disabled. For
better vehicle efficiency, operate the
vehicle in D (Drive) not
M (Manual Mode).
Cruise control can be used while
using the Range Selection Mode.

Black plate (12,1)Cadillac Escalade Hybrid - 2011
9-12 Driving and Operating You can choose among five driving
settings:
Indicator lights in the switches show
you which setting you are in. The
indicator lights will come on briefly
when you turn on the ignition and
the last chosen setting will stay on.
If the lights do not come on, you
should take the vehicle to your
dealer for service. An indicator light
will flash while shifting. It will stay on
when the shift is completed. If for
some reason the transfer case
cannot make a requested shift, it will
return to the last chosen setting.
2
m (Two-Wheel Drive High): This
setting is used for driving in most
street and highway situations. The
front axle is not engaged in
two-wheel drive. This setting also
provides the best fuel economy.
AUTO (Automatic Four-Wheel
Drive): This setting is ideal for use
when road surface traction
conditions are variable. When
driving your vehicle in AUTO, the
front axle is engaged, but the vehicle's power is primarily sent to
the rear wheels. When the vehicle's
software determines a need for
more traction, the system will
transfer more power to the front
wheels. Driving in this mode results
in slightly lower fuel economy than
Two-Wheel Drive High.
4
m (Four-Wheel Drive High): Use
the four-wheel high position when
you need extra traction, such as on
snowy or icy roads or in most
off-road situations. This setting also
engages the front axle to help drive
the vehicle. This is the best setting
to use when plowing snow.
4
n (Four-Wheel Drive Low) : This
setting also engages the front axle
and delivers extra torque. You may
never need this setting. It sends
maximum power to all four wheels.
You might choose Four-Wheel Drive
Low if you are driving off-road in
deep sand, deep mud, deep snow,
and while climbing or descending
steep hills. The vehicle has StabiliTrak. Shifting
into Four-Wheel-Drive Low will turn
Traction Control and StabiliTrak off.
See “ StabiliTrak System ” in the
owner manual.
{ WARNINGShifting the transfer case to
N (Neutral) can cause the vehicle
to roll even if the transmission is
in P (Park). You or someone else
could be seriously injured. Be
sure to set the parking brake
before placing the transfer case in
N (Neutral). See “ Parking Brake ”
in the owner manual for more
information.
N (Neutral): Shift the vehicle's
transfer case to N (Neutral) only
when towing the vehicle. See
“ Recreational Vehicle Towing ” or
“ Towing Your Vehicle ” in the owner
manual.

Black plate (16,1)Cadillac Escalade Hybrid - 2011
9-16 Driving and Operating
Brakes Regenerative Braking Regenerative braking is a hybrid
technology that enables the electric
drive motor to operate as a
generator when coasting or braking.
Energy from the moving vehicle
recharges the hybrid battery.
The hydraulic disc brakes work with
the regenerative braking to insure
effective braking, such as when a
high braking demand is requested.
The braking system is computer
controlled and blends the
regenerative braking with the
conventional hydraulic disc brakes
to meet any requirements for
deceleration. The controller interprets the braking request and
uses regenerative braking,
conventional hydraulic braking or a
combination of both as necessary.
Because the controller applies the
hydraulic brakes through its high
pressure accumulator, you may
occasionally hear the motor driven
pump when it recharges the system.
This is normal.
In the event of a controller problem,
the brake pedal may be harder to
push and the stopping distance may
be longer. Towing Trailer Towing For more information, see “ Towing a
Trailer ” in the owner manual.
Weight of the Trailer How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It depends on how the rig is used.
For example, speed, altitude, road
grades, outside temperature and
how much the vehicle is used to pull
a trailer are all important. It can
depend on any special equipment
on the vehicle, and the amount of
tongue weight the vehicle can carry.
Maximum trailer weight is calculated
assuming only the driver is in the
tow vehicle and it has all the
required trailering equipment. The
weight of additional optional
equipment, passengers and cargo in
the tow vehicle must be subtracted
from the maximum trailer weight.

Black plate (17,1)Cadillac Escalade Hybrid - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-17Use the following charts to determine how much the vehicle can weigh, based upon the vehicle model and options.
Vehicle Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR*
2WD 6.0 L V8 3.08 2 631 kg (5,800 lbs) 5 443 kg (12,000 lbs)
4WD 6.0 L V8 3.08 2 540 kg (5,600 lbs) 5 443 kg (12,000 lbs)
*The Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) is the total allowable weight of the completely loaded vehicle and
trailer including any passengers, cargo, equipment and conversions. The GCWR for the vehicle should not be
exceeded.
Towing Equipment Trailer Brakes If a trailer is being towed that has
trailer brakes and the trailer brakes
are manually applied while driving
slower than 40 km/h (25 mph), the
vehicle may go into auto stop mode
even if the brakes are not being
pressed. Using the trailer brake
system manually can make the
hybrid vehicle perform as if the
brake pedal in the vehicle is being
pressed. The trailer brake operation
check will still work. If the trailer
brakes are manually applied for an
extended period of time, the SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM
message comes on in the Driver
Information Center. The message
goes off after the trailer brakes have
been released. No other action is
necessary. For more information,
see “ Towing Equipment ” in the
owner manual.

Black plate (1,1)Cadillac Escalade Hybrid - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-1
Vehicle Care Vehicle Checks Doing Your Own
Service Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
Engine Compartment
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Automatic Transmission
Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-6
Drive Motor/Generator Control
Module (DMCM) Coolant
Surge Tank
Pressure Cap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-9
Drive Motor/Generator Control
Module (DMCM) Cooling
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-9
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . 10-13
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-13
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . 10-14
Electrical System High Voltage Devices and
Wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-15
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-15
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-15 Wheels and Tires Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-17
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-18
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-22
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . 10-24
Storing the Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . 10-31
Jump Starting Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-31
Towing Recreational Vehicle
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-36
Appearance Care Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-40

10-36 Vehicle Care
Towing Recreational Vehicle
Towing Recreational vehicle towing means
towing the vehicle behind another
vehicle – such as behind a
motorhome. The two most common
types of recreational vehicle towing
are known as dinghy towing and
dolly towing. Dinghy towing is
towing the vehicle with all four
wheels on the ground. Dolly towing
is towing the vehicle with two
wheels on the ground and two
wheels up on a device known as
a dolly. Here are some important things to
consider before recreational vehicle
towing: .
What is the towing capacity
of the towing vehicle?
Be sure to read the tow
vehicle manufacturer's
recommendations. .
What is the distance that will be
travelled? Some vehicles have
restrictions on how far and how
long they can tow. .
Is the proper towing equipment
going to be used? See your
dealer or trailering professional
for additional advice and
equipment recommendations. .
Is the vehicle ready to be
towed? Just as preparing the
vehicle for a long trip, make sure
the vehicle is prepared to be
towed. Dinghy Towing Two-Wheel Drive Vehicles
Notice: If the vehicle is towed
with all four wheels on the
ground, the drivetrain
components could be damaged.
The repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Do not
tow the vehicle with all four
wheels on the ground.
Two-wheel drive vehicles should
not be towed with all four wheels
on the ground. Two-wheel drive
transmissions have no provisions
for internal lubrication while being
towed.

Vehicle Care 10-37Four-Wheel Drive Vehicles
Use the following procedure to
dinghy tow a four-wheel drive
vehicle:
1. Position the vehicle being towed
behind the tow vehicle and shift
the transmission to P (Park).
2. Turn the engine off and firmly set
the parking brake. See “ Parking
Brake ” in the owner manual.
3. Securely attach the vehicle
being towed to the tow vehicle. { WARNINGShifting a four-wheel-drive
vehicle's transfer case into
N (Neutral) can cause the vehicle
to roll even if the transmission is
in P (Park). The driver or others
could be injured. Make sure the
parking brake is firmly set before
the transfer case is shifted to
N (Neutral).
4. Shift the transfer case to
N (Neutral). See “ Shifting into
N (Neutral) ” under Four-Wheel
Drive on page 9 ‑ 11 for the
proper procedure to select the
Neutral position for the vehicle.
5. Release the parking brake only
after the vehicle being towed is
firmly attached to the towing
vehicle. 6. For vehicles without a column
lock, turn the ignition to LOCK/
OFF and remove the key.
The steering wheel will still turn.
7. For vehicles with a column lock,
remove the DLIS fuse from the
engine compartment fuse block
and turn the ignition to the
ACC/ACCESSORY position.
If the ignition is turned to the
ON/RUN position, the battery
will be drained.

10-38 Vehicle Care Dolly Towing – Front Towing
(Front Wheels Off the Ground) Two-Wheel Drive Vehicles
Notice: If a two-wheel-drive
vehicle is towed with the rear
wheels on the ground, the
transmission could be damaged.
The repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Never
tow the vehicle with the rear
wheels on the ground. Two-wheel drive vehicles should not
be towed with the rear wheels on
the ground. Two-wheel drive
transmissions have no provisions
for internal lubrication while being
towed.
To dolly tow a two ‐ wheel ‐ drive
vehicle, the vehicle must be towed
with the rear wheels on the dolly.
See “ Rear Towing (Rear Wheels Off
the Ground) ” later in this section for
more information. Four-Wheel Drive Vehicles
Use the following procedure to dolly
tow a four-wheel drive vehicle from
the front:
1. Attach the dolly to the tow
vehicle following the dolly
manufacturer's instructions.
2. Drive the front wheels onto the
dolly.
3. Shift the transmission to
P (Park).

Black plate (39,1)Cadillac Escalade Hybrid - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-394. Firmly set the parking brake.
See “ Parking Brake ” in the
owner manual.
{ WARNINGShifting a four-wheel-drive
vehicle's transfer case into
N (Neutral) can cause the vehicle
to roll even if the transmission is
in P (Park). The driver or others
could be injured. Make sure the
parking brake is firmly set before
the transfer case is shifted to
N (Neutral).
5. Shift the transfer case to
N (Neutral). See “ Shifting into
N (Neutral) ” under Four-Wheel
Drive on page 9 ‑ 11 .
6. Secure the vehicle to the dolly
following the manufacturer's
instructions. 7. Release the parking brake only
after the vehicle being towed is
firmly attached to the towing
vehicle.
8. Turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF.
After towing, see “ Shifting Out of
N (Neutral) ” under Four-Wheel Drive
on page 9 ‑ 11 .
Dolly Towing – Rear Towing
(Rear Wheels Off the Ground) Two ‐ Wheel Drive Vehicles
Use the following procedure to dolly
tow a two-wheel drive vehicle from
the rear:
1. Attach the dolly to the tow
vehicle following the dolly
manufacturer's instructions.
2. Drive the rear wheels onto the
dolly.
3. Firmly set the parking brake.
See “ Parking Brake ” in the
owner manual.
4. Put the transmission in P (Park).
5. Secure the vehicle to the dolly
following the manufacturer's
instructions.
6. Use an adequate clamping
device designed for towing to
ensure that the front wheels are
locked into the straight position.
7. Turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF.

Black plate (40,1)Cadillac Escalade Hybrid - 2011
10-40 Vehicle Care Four ‐ Wheel ‐ Drive Vehicles
Use the following procedure to dolly
tow a four-wheel-drive vehicle from
the rear:
1. Attach the dolly to the tow
vehicle following the dolly
manufacturer's instructions.
2. Drive the rear wheels onto the
dolly.
3. Firmly set the parking brake.
See “ Parking Brake ” in the
owner manual.
4. Put the transmission in P (Park).
5. Secure the vehicle to the dolly
following the manufacturer's
instructions.
6. Use an adequate clamping
device designed for towing to
ensure that the front wheels are
locked into the straight position. { WARNINGShifting a four-wheel-drive
vehicle's transfer case into
N (Neutral) can cause the vehicle
to roll even if the transmission is
in P (Park). The driver or others
could be injured. Make sure the
parking brake is firmly set before
the transfer case is shifted to
N (Neutral).
7. Shift the transfer case to
N (Neutral). See “ Shifting into
N (Neutral) ” under Four-Wheel
Drive on page 9 ‑ 11 .
8. Turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF.
After towing, see “ Shifting Out of
N (Neutral) ” under Four-Wheel Drive
on page 9 ‑ 11 .Appearance Care Exterior Care When scraping the windshield glass
to remove ice and snow, stay clear
of the hybrid decal.
To have the hybrid decals removed
from the vehicle, please see your
dealer.